I'm not sure if I love it or hate it. It's REALLY different.
I ended up cutting off about 10 inches. And I had her color it a dark brown -- about two shades darker than my natural color.
Oh my. God.
A Drivel Runs Through It
Friday, September 30, 2005
I'm not sure if I love it or hate it. It's REALLY different.
I ended up cutting off about 10 inches. And I had her color it a dark brown -- about two shades darker than my natural color.
Oh my. God.
Thursday, September 29, 2005
Wednesday, September 28, 2005
Here's something that may interest Montana bloggers. CNN Headline News writer and blogger Christine Boese will give a lecture titled "Big Media and Little Bloggers: How Corporate Media Responded to War-Blogging Journalists" on Monday, Oct. 10, at the University of Montana.
The lecture begins at 7 p.m. in the University Center Theater. It's sponsored by the School of Journalism. More info here.
Monday, September 26, 2005
Yeah. I blatantly stole that headline from Courtney at New West. Cuz it's good, and I'm too tired to think of anything better right now. For excellent summaries of the panel discussion, read Courtney's, Ed's and John's posts. I really enjoyed meeting and visiting with my fellow panelists -- interesting, talented folks, the lot of 'em -- and I thought the whole shebang went well, with a surprisingly good turnout. I even managed to make an ass of myself somewhat articulately.
But, as I commented on Courtney's post, after confessing (realizing) that my blogging is mostly self-indulgent navel-gazing, I've spent the past two days questioning: Why do I bother? It's not like there aren't 20 better ways I could be spending my time. I can give a few halfhearted reasons why I blog: it's a way to stay in touch with friends, to express my creativity, to share my thoughts and photographs with others, to connect with a larger community, to keep my writing voice limber.
But if my friends don't read my blog, and my readers don't comment, and I don't have time to upload deep thoughts and beautiful photos; if I'm not taking any risks beyond political venting and cat-and-mouse adventures, what am I doing?
Maybe I'm just depressed -- because if it's not one thing, it's three others. Maybe the haze of cold symptoms is fogging my brain. Maybe I just want to make my pathetic existence seem like something.
In any case, here are a few links that came up during and after the panel discussion:
- Blogger - user-friendly, free, web-based blogging software.
- Bloglines - a free, web-based RSS feed reader (also called an aggregator). In other words, a way to subscribe to blogs and news feeds, instead of having to go out and find them every day.
- Google Blog Search - one of the newest ways to find blogs; just type in keywords for whatever interests you.
Saturday, September 24, 2005
Since I'm going to be a panelist in a session about blogging today at the Montana Festival of the Book, I figured I should actually update my blog.
***
The panel discussion is called "It's a Journal ... No, It's a Publication ... No, It's a Blog!" I'll be joining the esteemed Courtney Lowery of New West, Ed Kemmick of the Billings Gazette's City Lights, and John Clayton of Writing in the West. The four of us met for beers tonight to talk about ... what we're going to talk about. We came up with a few things, and we'll be taking questions, too. So if you have any interest in blogging -- or you just want to watch me make an ass of myself trying to speak articulately in public -- you should come. It's at 1 p.m. in the Holiday Inn Parkside Ballroom I, and like nearly all of the bookfest events, it's free and open to the public.
***
This morning I had a consultation with a hair stylist, and I made an appointment to get my hair cut next Friday. Assuming I don't chicken out, it's going to be a big change. My hair has been the same -- long, straight, mostly all one length -- for a loooong time. I'm ready for something different. I want layers, volume, and maybe a little less hair to blow dry every morning.
After the consultation, I met my friend L. for lunch. We were roommates a long time ago. When I told her I was planning to take four or five inches off my hair, she started crying. Of course, she's eight months pregnant, so hormones may have had something to do with it. But she said my hair was the first thing she noticed about me, and that I won't seem like me without it. This made me nervous. But hey, my hair is waist-length now. Even losing four or five inches, it's still going to be long.
***
I got my car back from the auto body shop today, just over a month after being rear-ended in Auburn, Washington, by an uninsured driver. I tell you, it is a bitter pill to swallow when you have to hand over $500 of your own money for someone else's mistake. However, I guess paying the deductible is better than having to pay the full $4,000.
The body shop guy showed me pictures of the damage that they didn't discover until they took the rear end apart. He said that since it was a bumper-to-bumper impact, there was a lot of buckling hidden underneath the bumper and they had to replace the whole rear floor panel. They also had to replace my seat, which broke in the accident. He said it must have been a pretty hard hit to do that much damage.
***
Now that I have my car back, hopefully my life will return to some semblance of normal. These past few weeks have been ridiculously stressful. Is there something going on with the planets?
Sunday, September 18, 2005
I saw Ted Turner on Letterman Friday night. A part-time Montana resident, he is wonderfully intelligent, progressive, anti-war, articulate, generous and witty. Oh, and handsome and rich. (Jane, are you crazy?!?)
Six years ago I saw Turner speak in person when he visited UM's journalism school. I even wrote a little story on him; it remains one of my favorite pieces because he was so profoundly quotable. It's rare to see such a powerful man so committed to peace, human rights and the environment. Gives me hope.
- Why do I always wait until late Sunday to finally get my homework done?
- Why can't I ever, ever get everything on my to-do list done?
- Why is anybody surprised that Kate Moss does cocaine?
- Why do Republicans always criticize Dems about "big government," then run up the deficit to staggering, all-time highs?
- Why am I sleepy all afternoon, then wide awake into the wee hours of the morning?
- Why is furniture so damned expensive?
Thursday, September 15, 2005
The better a job you do, the more demanding people become.
(This is the first post from my new Treo 650 smartphone. Hope it works!)
Saturday, September 10, 2005
Congrats to Nancy of the blog Now You Listen Here, who is the winning bidder of my New Orleans photograph in the Flickr Katrina Relief Auction. She made a generous bid of $110, all of which will go to the Red Cross to help hurricane survivors. Thank you, Nancy!!!
Now, the rest of you: Get your heinies over to the auction and bid on some of the 426 other amazing photographs that are being offered. More than $14,000 has been raised so far, and this is a great way to donate to a critical cause while getting something cool in return. You don't have to be a Flickr member to bid; just look for the "bid by email" link in each discussion thread. Go. Now.
Friday, September 09, 2005
So about 10 minutes ago, I'm lying in bed, Tango at my feet, finally about to fall asleep after two hours of trying. I had gone to bed early, exhausted, having had one of the most stressful weeks I can remember -- EVERYTHING has been a hassle lately. Last night my sleep was cut short by the crunch and snort of a bear in the trash -- again. Tonight I was desperate, determined. I took a Lunesta sleeping pill. I rubbed lavender oil on my wrists.
Then, in a sleepy haze, I heard a pounce out in the kitchen -- Luna catching the mouse I'd spotted a few nights ago snarfing food from the cat bowls. Good for her, I thought, and snuggled deeper into the covers. Not 15 seconds went by before Luna leapt into my bed and began bouncing around -- with her mouse. I stifled a scream, turned on the light and jumped out of bed in one fluid motion. Tango also sprang up and out of bed. And Luna -- little Luna was looking around frantically for her mouse, which had taken advantage of the commotion to scram.
I know it was there. It left one frightened little turd on the bedspread.
I shook all the covers and pillows. Luna's obsessed, attacking shadows. I'm sure the little creature is under my bed somewhere, twitching its whiskers at its unbelievable good fortune. And me? Sleep may be a long time coming tonight.
Living in a log cabin in the country has its charms, but let me tell you, this ain't one of 'em.
Monday, September 05, 2005
Saturday, September 03, 2005
I'm having a blue day. I am usually pretty independent and capable, but today is one of those days I sure wish I had someone to take care of me. Reasons I'm sad:
- The hurricane, of course. I fell in love with New Orleans on my first visit in August 1998. I loved it so much I even considered moving there, and the thought has remained in the back of my mind. I returned in January 2004. It is (was) a magnificent, historically and culturally rich city populated by warm, talented people. My heart aches for the people and the place.
- I am really annoyed by the tendency to blame the victim. Like, "Well, they shouldn't have been living in such a low-lying place," or "They should have left when they had the chance." When I lived in San Francisco during the '89 earthquake, the same thing happened. People across the country said, "They're to blame for living on an earthquake fault." Guess what, folks. There are few places on Earth that aren't subject to one form of natural disaster or another. Tornadoes, wildfire, drought, floods, heat waves, fierce winters .... Here in Montana our highways turn into an icy killing field every winter. We have droughts and wildfires. And, although many people either don't know or don't believe it, we have a very high potential for a severe earthquake. Among those blaming the hurricane victims is the FEMA director! I don't care what the circumstances, people in desperate situations deserve help. What the hell am I paying taxes for?
- If you need help generating some compassion for those who remained despite the warnings, go read some of the desperate pleas for help on the Nola View blog. Overwhelmingly, those who are now trapped and stranded are elderly, sick or poor.
- The focus on race and looting saddens me. Catastrophes like this bring out either the best or the worst in people. In the SF quake, while some risked their lives to save others or made generous donations of goods and time, others looted and price-gouged. And desperation, whether for food and water or for the nice things they've never had in their lives, comes in all colors. C'mon, look around. White people certainly aren't exempt from thievery.
- For unknown reasons, MoveOn's Hurricane Housing web site has removed the link that allowed the newly homeless to search for shelter more than 350 miles from metropolitan areas. So now no one can find the dozens of listings from Montanans who offered help. I emailed them, but haven't heard anything. I'm sure they're overwhelmed, and I totally appreciate the effort, but this bums me out.
- I feel guilty for not doing more to help. Donating more, volunteering more, blogging more, politicking more .... But I'm tired.
- On another subject, I've been in pain for a couple of days, for unknown reasons. The throat area of my neck has been very sore, especially when I breathe (which is like, often) and when I lie down or get up. I've been trying to grin and bear it, but last night it hurt like hell. I finally went to NowCare today, but they couldn't find anything wrong with me. They did, however, prescribe Lortab, which is kicking in nicely at the moment. Ah, relief. (I might end up regretting this post in the morning, though.)
- I have had enough of driving around a car with a messed-up, uncomfortable seat and an unusable, bashed-in trunk. I got an estimate Wednesday and the autobody shop said it would be a few days before they could get the parts ordered and get my car in. But they didn't call me back Thursday like they said they would, or Friday.
- My health insurance STILL hasn't come through with the reimbursement for my surgery claim, which I mailed (across town) on July 21. Until it comes, I can't get reimbursed by my flex-spending account, but in the meantime, I've lost $1,000 out of my paychecks to flex deductions. (Thank goodness I got my student loan check last week.)
- The prescription refill I ordered three weeks ago, and checked on one week ago, still hasn't arrived.
- I can't find the book I need to have read by class on Wednesday anywhere in town. The university bookstore is sold out and none of the others I've checked so far has it.
- I don't have enough time to take all the classes I want to take and do all the things I want to do. Woe is me.
- Probably nobody will even comment on this post. It's too long, and it's boring. Oh well.
Friday, September 02, 2005
I'm offering this image or any of the 16 photographs in my New Orleans set to the highest bidder. All proceeds go to the Red Cross for hurricane relief via the Flickr Katrina Relief Auction. This auction is a great way to decorate your walls while helping out those who have lost so much.
Thursday, September 01, 2005
